"The promotion speed of the Eight-Winged Pith-Immortal's reincarnated body is truly unexpected!"
"Then again, it was a time-attribute, Void Refinement stage spirit insect in its past life. It spent tens of thousands of years planning this reincarnation, so such achievements are only logical."
Qi Ping looked at the reincarnated body of the Rank 4 Eight-Winged Pith-Immortal. It was pure white, resembling a jade-carved cicada. As he felt the dense bloodline power and origin within its small frame, even he was amazed by its sheer strength.
That was the power of time—a force far more difficult to comprehend than even the laws of space! To see it manifest within a group of Rank 4 spirit insects was nothing short of a miracle.
"At this rate, the Eight-Winged Pith-Immortal might even reach Rank 5 before the war with the demons begins. If the war drags on, it might even awaken its past-life memories and begin its revenge against the Sky-Dragon Continent..."
Qi Ping harbored deep respect for this Void Refinement senior. He was also curious to see who would ultimately be stronger in the future: this pure time-attribute Eight-Winged Pith-Immortal or his own Golden Marrow Bees.
In his current estimation, he had only one evaluation for the Pith-Immortal's reincarnated body: its future was limitless.
"You've done an excellent job cultivating the Pith-Immortal," Qi Ping praised Sister Nan. "If we can get it to the Soul Transformation level before the great battle, it will surely shine brilliantly on the battlefield!"
"I will," Sister Nan replied simply, her voice filled with unwavering determination.
Even if Qi Ping hadn't said anything, she would have exhausted every ounce of her strength to do it. This was the wish of the Eight-Winged Pith-Immortal senior, and it was what she wanted most. Only by excelling could she stay close to Qi Ping and truly become his right hand.
Consequently, she devoted all her time to the study and cultivation of spirit insects. Creating the strongest time-attribute insect was the path best suited for her.
After a brief catch-up with Sister Nan, Qi Ping visited Meng Yan, Zhang Daniu, Han Li, and other companions he had met along his path of cultivation.
None of the three had fallen behind.
First, Meng Yan and Zhang Daniu had recently broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, their strength skyrocketing.
Meng Yan, in particular, was now the most famous genius refiner in the Refinement Pavilion. Even among the refiners of the entire Star-Sea Continent, he was considered a top-tier figure, enjoying immense prestige.
Zhang Daniu's rise was less flashy, but due to his excellent character, he had been appointed to a critical core position in the Star-Sea Academy. Between his monthly stipend and the spirit fields he meticulously managed, he was living quite well.
His simple, persistent nature allowed him to build a solid foundation. In terms of pure stability and depth of cultivation, he was actually slightly ahead of Meng Yan.
However, the most impressive of the three was the low-key Han Li. He appeared quiet, but he had already reached the mid-level of the Nascent Soul stage. He could likely take on both Zhang Daniu and Meng Yan at once without much trouble.
Of course, Qi Ping had provided them with "special treatment" in terms of techniques and resources, but their achievements were primarily the result of their own hard work.
Finally, Qi Ping did not make a special trip to see Wang He, as Wang He was now the head of law enforcement for the Star-Sea Nine Domains and met with Qi Ping frequently. Wang He had reached the late-level of the Nascent Soul stage and was on the verge of breaking through to Soul Transformation.
Though they were still far behind Qi Ping in terms of power, they were the undisputed geniuses of the Star-Sea Continent. Influenced by the world's changing laws and the blessing of providence, they were destined to become pivotal figures in the future.
Seeing his old friends charging forward on their respective paths made Qi Ping genuinely happy.
One event particularly worth mentioning was that the massive Zhang Daniu had gotten married! He had formed a dao-partnership with a Golden Core female cultivator from the outer domains, and they now had a pair of chubby twins.
The children's features were practically carved from the same mold as Zhang Daniu. When Qi Ping visited, the family was overflowing with happiness. Such a domestic life was rare for cultivators at the Golden Core level or higher.
Looking at this harmonious family, Qi Ping felt a small pang of envy. After all, who hadn't dreamed of marrying a gentle wife and building a home?
But that envy was fleeting. His primary interests still lay in the exploration of power and the mysteries of this world, all to build a truly secure and powerful home for everyone.
Furthermore, as he learned more, Qi Ping could sense the overwhelming mystery and hidden horrors of this universe. Until he was certain he had the power to face those threats, he felt it was better not to have a family. Once a wife and children entered the picture, it would be impossible to hide them. He didn't want to hand his enemies any weaknesses.
This was a matter of perspective. Zhang Daniu and the citizens of the Star-Sea Nine Domains saw an unprecedented golden age. Aside from the demon threat, every condition was perfect.
As for the demons, they believed that with Qi Ping as the Star-Lord, they would surely prevail. The Star-Sea Academy had even promoted the idea that winning the war required a massive increase in population. Children born during this period had a much higher chance of possessing extraordinary spirit bodies.
Because of this, both humans and other sentient beings had a strong desire to procreate. Those who knew they had reached their own limits were working tirelessly to produce offspring, hoping that a gifted child might start a new, illustrious chapter for their bloodline.
Indeed, many infants with special spirit bodies and talents were being born. Zhang Daniu's twins, for instance, possessed the Twin-Soul Spirit Body.
The Star-Sea Nine Domains had even begun popularizing training methods for these high-talent children. Nourished by dense spiritual energy, these infants were growing stronger at a staggering pace.
Even for those without special talents, the Star-Sea Academy provided basic cultivation support. If they could prove their value through hard work, they could still attain high positions and respect.
This generation, born under such unique celestial conditions, would undoubtedly be the most prosperous and special in the history of the Star-Sea Continent. Qi Ping intended to nurture them to their fullest potential while ensuring they developed good character. He had no interest in raising a flock of ungrateful wolves in the home he had worked so hard to build.
Looking at the vibrant life within the Star-Sea Nine Domains, Qi Ping felt a profound sense of accomplishment.
However, unlike the people below him, Qi Ping saw something else. In his eyes, there was only an impenetrable darkness. Even the small corner he had glimpsed was enough to make his heart tremble in fear.